Sliding and pivoting extendable arm for a toilet paper roll dispenser

ABSTRACT

A toilet paper roll support and dispenser ( 10 ) can include an elongated arm ( 14 ) extendable through sliding and pivoting movement with respect to a bracket ( 12 ). The bracket ( 12 ) can be attachable in a stationary fixed position with respect to pre-existing toilet paper roll support structure ( 13 ) including a pair of spaced apart, outwardly extending wall mounted support members ( 13   a,    13   b ) with a spring loaded cylinder ( 13   c ) releasibly engageable and supportable therebetween. The elongated arm ( 14 ) can transition during sliding and pivoting movement with respect to the bracket ( 12 ) between a storage position ( 18 ), an intermediate position ( 17 ), and a use position ( 16 ). The elongated arm ( 14 ) can include a stop ( 28 ) adjacent one end ( 14   a ) and can support a spindle ( 24 ) for a toilet paper roll adjacent one end ( 14   b ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a toilet paper roll support and dispenser with and extendable and collapsible toilet paper roll support.

BACKGROUND

Known extendable toilet paper roll dispensers extend using various methods. These methods typically include one of a drawer-like sliding movement, a pivoting ball and socket movement, or a telescopic movement. None of the known extendable toilet paper roll dispensers extend using a combination of sliding and pivoting movement. Various known configurations of extendable toilet paper roll dispensers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,201,770; U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,739; U.S. Pat. No. 7,306,185; U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,219; U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,452; U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,170; U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,345; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,403.

SUMMARY

A toilet paper roll dispenser can include a bracket and an elongated arm. The bracket can be attachable to pre-existing support structure, by way of example and not limitation, such as a pre-existing toilet paper roll support having two spaced apart outwardly extending support members with a spring loaded cylinder releasibly attached thereto and extending therebetween. The bracket can be attachable in a stationary fixed position with respect to the pre-existing support structure. An elongate arm can transition during movement with respect to the bracket between a storage position and a use position. The elongated arm can support a roll of toilet paper adjacent one end.

A toilet paper roll dispenser can include an elongated bracket having a generally planar portion and can define an aperture adjacent one end operably engageable with an elongated arm. The elongated arm can be engageable through the aperture for transitioning movement between a storage position extending outwardly perpendicular with respect to the planar portion of the bracket and a use position extending outwardly parallel with respect to the planar portion of the elongated bracket. The elongated arm can support a roll of toilet paper adjacent an one end. In the storage position, the toilet paper roll support is located generally adjacent the bracket. In the use position, the toilet paper roll support is extended outwardly away from and spaced from the bracket. The elongated arm can include a spindle on one end of the arm for holding a toilet paper roll. The elongated arm can include a stop member on an opposite end from the spindle to prevent the elongated arm from sliding out of the aperture formed in the elongated bracket.

A toilet paper roll dispenser can include an elongated bracket having a planar portion and defining an aperture, and an elongated arm engageable through the aperture defined by the bracket. The aperture defined by the bracket can be formed as a slot. The elongated arm can transition during movement between a storage position and a use position. In the storage position, the elongated arm can lie generally perpendicular with respect to the planar portion of the elongated bracket. In the use position, the elongated arm can lie generally parallel to the planar portion of the elongated bracket. The elongated arm can include a spindle supported adjacent to one end for holding a toilet paper roll. The elongated arm can also include a stop member located adjacent to an opposite end from the one end supporting the spindle.

Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view showing toilet paper roll support and dispenser with an elongated bracket having a planar portion attached to an existing wall-mounted toilet paper support structure shown in phantom with at least one attachment clamp and an elongated arm shown in a use position with respect to the elongated bracket;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the toilet paper roll support and dispenser of FIG. 1 with the elongated bracket attached to the existing wall-mounted toilet paper support structure and with the elongated arm transitioning between the use position of FIG. 1 and a storage position with pivoting and sliding movement with respect to the elongated bracket;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the elongated bracket having a planar portion;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the toilet paper roll support and dispenser of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the elongated bracket attached to the existing wall-mounted toilet paper support structure and with the elongated arm in the storage position; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the elongated bracket attached to an existing wall-mounted toilet paper unit using a plurality of attachment clamps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is for a toilet paper roll support and dispenser allowing for the extension of a toilet paper roll support spindle from an ill placed wall-mounted toilet paper unit providing easier access to the toilet paper roll for dispensing.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a toilet paper roll support and dispenser 10 is shown with an elongated arm 14 extendable through sliding and pivoting movement between a use position 18 shown in FIG. 1, an intermediate position 17 shown in FIG. 2, and a storage position 16 shown in FIG. 4. The toilet paper roll dispenser 10 can include an elongated bracket 12 having a planar portion 12 a and an elongated arm 14. The bracket can attach to a pre-existing wall mounted toilet paper roll holder 13 having a spaced apart, outwardly extending, wall mounted supports 13 a, 13 b with a spring loaded cylinder 13 c releasibly engageable and supportable therebetween. The planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 can lie on top of the two pre-existing supports 13 a, 13 b of the pre-existing toilet paper holder 13. The supports 13 a, 13 b can be mounted to a wall, as is traditional. A spring-loaded cylinder 13 c can be supported between the supports 13 a, 13 b. The planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 can lie parallel to the spring-loaded cylinder of the pre-existing, wall-mounted toilet paper holder 13. The bracket 12 can support at least one attaching member or clamp 30 a, 30 b to attach the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 to the spring loaded cylinder 13 c of the pre-existing, wall-mounted toilet paper holder 13.

The attaching member 30 a, 30 b can be located at a distance spaced from either outer end of the elongated bracket 12, so that that elongated bracket can rest across and be supported on the spaced apart supports 13 a, 13 b of the pre-existing toilet paper hold 13. The elongated bracket 12 can define an aperture 20 cantilevered with respect to one of the supports 13 a, 13 b to an outside location with respect to the interstitial space in between the supports 13 a, 13 b for supporting sliding and pivoting movement of the elongated arm 14 with respect to the elongated bracket 12. The aperture 20 can be of a size and shape as desired, while selected to accommodate the desired movement of the arm 14 with respect to the bracket 12. By way of example and not limitation, the aperture 20 can be formed as a slot allowing the elongated arm 14 to move in a sliding and pivoting manner with respect to the bracket 12. The aperture 20 can be located adjacent an outer end of the bracket 12. The elongated arm 14, in the use position 18, can lie parallel to the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12. The elongated arm 14 can lie across and on top of the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 in the use position 18. A stop member 28 can be located at one end 14 a of the elongated arm 14 to prevent the elongated arm 14 from disengaging with respect to the bracket 12. In the use position 18, the stop member 28 can be located on the end 14 a of the elongated arm 14 adjacent to the bracket 12. A spindle 25 can be located on the elongated arm 14 on an opposite end 14 b from the stop member 28. The spindle 25 can be used to hold a toilet paper roll. The spindle 25 can be a spaced distance away from the stop member 28. The spindle 25 can protrude perpendicularly from the elongated arm 14. A retaining member 26 can be located at the end of the spindle 25, opposite from the elongated arm 14. The retaining member 26 can be used to hold the toilet paper roll onto the spindle 25.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a transition or intermediate position 17 of the elongated arm 14 is illustrated. The elongated arm 14 is engaged with respect to the aperture 20 of the bracket 12 and is located in an intermediate position 17 between the use position 18 and the storage position 16. The transition movement can involve the elongated arm 14 simultaneously sliding and pivoting within the aperture 20 of the bracket 12. The pivoting movement of the elongated arm 14 can rotate the elongated arm 14 through an approximately 90° angle. The 90° angle can include a range from a point where the elongated arm 14 is generally parallel to the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 to a point where the elongated arm 14 is generally perpendicular to the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12. The pivoting movement of the elongated arm 14 can occur in a plane parallel to a wall supporting the bracket 12. From a use position 18, the elongated arm 14 can pivot away from the bracket 12, pivoting generally about the end 14 a of the arm 14 adjacent the stop member 28. As this pivoting movement continues, the spindle 25 adjacent the opposite end 14 b of the elongated arm 14 can continue to move increasing the angle between the elongated arm 14 and the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12. As the pivoting movement continues and as the angle between the elongated arm 14 and the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 increases, the elongated arm 14 can begin to slide through the aperture 20 defined in the bracket 12. As this sliding movement begins, the distance between the stop member 28 of the elongated arm 14 and the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 can increase, as the distance between the spindle 25 support by the elongated arm 14 and planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 can decrease. The simultaneous pivoting and sliding movements can continue until the elongated arm 14 is positioned generally perpendicular with respect to the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 and the spindle 25 supported on the opposite end 14 b of the elongated arm 14 is positioned generally adjacent to the bracket 12 placing the elongated arm 14 in the storage position 16.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a top view of the bracket 12 including the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 and the aperture 20 is illustrated. The aperture 20 can be defined in the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 or in a non-planar portion of the bracket 12. By way of example and not limitation, the aperture 20 can be formed as a slot. The aperture 20 can be of any desired size and shape, while accommodating the desired sliding and pivoting movement of the arm 14 with respect to the bracket 12. The aperture 20 can be located adjacent one end of the bracket 12 cantilevered with respect to one of the supports 13 a, 13 b to a position external with respect to the interstitial space located between the supports 13 a, 13 b. The elongated arm 14 can slidably engage through the aperture 20 and freely slide and pivot with respect to the bracket 12.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a toilet paper roll support and dispenser 10 is illustrated. The toilet paper roll support and dispenser 10 can be extendable with sliding and pivoting movement to the storage position 16 shown in FIG. 4. In the storage position 16, the elongated arm 14 can extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 and the spindle 25 can be supported by the opposite end 14 b of the elongated arm 14 in a location generally adjacent to the bracket 12. The spindle 25 supported from the elongated arm 14 can extend in a direction generally parallel to the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 in the storage position 16. The retaining member 26 can retain a toilet paper roll with respect to the spindle 25.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the elongated arm 14 of the toilet paper roll support and dispenser 10 can be extendable with sliding and pivoting movement with respect to bracket 12. The planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 can rest on at least one of the two supports 13 a, 13 b of the pre-existing, wall-mounted toilet paper holder 13 as shown in FIG. 5. The planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12 can be long enough to rest on both supports 13 a, 13 b of the pre-existing toilet paper holder 13 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. Under the planar portion 12 a of the bracket 12, there can be at least one attaching or clamping member 30 a, 30 b as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The at least one attaching or clamping member 30 a, 30 b can include a plurality of attachment or clamping members 30 a, 30 b as shown in FIG. 4 to attach the bracket 12 to a spring-loaded cylinder 13 c of the pre-existing, wall-mounted toilet paper holder 13. The at least one attaching or clamping member 30 a, 30 b can be formed as a clamp with contoured leaf spring material for releasable engagement with the cylindrical member 13 c supported between the supports 13 a, 13 b of the pre-existing, wall mounted toilet paper holder 13. If more than one attaching or clamping member 30 a, 30 b is desired, one attaching or clamping member can be of a larger diameter 30 a while another attaching or clamping member 30 b can be of a smaller diameter to accommodate the two differing diameters of the telescoping, spring-loaded cylinder 13 c of a pre-existing, wall-mounted toilet paper holder 13.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toilet paper dispenser (10) comprising: a bracket (12) attachable in a stationary fixed position and having a planar portion (12 a); and an elongated arm (14) for transitioning movement with respect to the bracket (12) between a storage position (16) and a use position (18), the arm (14) having a support (24) for a roll of toilet paper adjacent one end.
 2. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 1, wherein the storage position (16) of the elongated arm (14) is oriented perpendicular to the planar portion (12 a) of the bracket (12).
 3. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 1, wherein the use position (18) of the elongated arm (14) is oriented generally parallel to the planar portion (12 a) of the bracket (12).
 4. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 1 further comprising: the planar portion (12 a) of the bracket (12) having an aperture (20) adjacent one end for receiving the elongated arm (14) for movement with respect to the planar portion (12 a) of the bracket (12).
 5. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 4, wherein the elongated arm (14) slides and pivots between the storage position (16) and the use position (18).
 6. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 4, wherein the aperture (20) of the bracket (12) is formed as a slot.
 7. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 1, wherein the support (24) further comprises: a spindle (25) on the elongated arm (14), the spindle (25) for holding the roll of toilet paper.
 8. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 7 further comprising: a retaining member (26) connectible to the spindle (25), the retaining member (26) preventing the toilet paper roll from falling off from the spindle (25).
 9. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 1 further comprising: a stop member (28) connected to the elongated arm (14), the stop member (28) preventing the arm (14) from sliding out of engagement within the aperture (20) of the bracket (12).
 10. A toilet paper dispenser (10) for dispensing toilet paper from a roll comprising: a bracket (12) having an elongated planar portion (12 a) with an aperture (20) formed adjacent one end; and an elongated arm (14) engageable through the aperture (20) for transitioning movement between a storage position (16) extending generally perpendicular to the planar portion (12 a) of the bracket (12) positioning a supported roll of toilet paper adjacent to the bracket (12) and a use position (18) extending generally parallel to the planar portion (12 a) of the bracket (12) positioning the supported roll of toilet paper spaced outwardly from the bracket (12).
 11. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 10, wherein the bracket (12) attaches to an existing toilet paper dispenser wall support (13).
 12. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 11, wherein the bracket (12) attaches to a pre-existing toilet paper dispenser wall support (13) with at least one clamping member (30).
 13. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 10, wherein the aperture (20) of the bracket (12) is formed as a slot.
 14. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 13 further comprising: a stop member (28) connected to the elongated arm (14) adjacent an end opposite from the supported roll of toilet paper, the stop member (28) preventing the elongated arm (14) from sliding out of the slot of the bracket (12) during sliding and pivoting movement of the elongated arm (14) with respect to the bracket (12).
 15. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 10, wherein the elongated arm (14) transitions between the storage position (16) and the use position (18) with a combination of sliding and pivoting movement.
 16. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 10 further comprising: a spindle (25) on one end of the arm (14) for holding a roll of toilet paper.
 17. The toilet paper dispenser (10) of claim 16 further comprising a retaining member (26) on the spindle (25), the retaining member (26) preventing the roll of toilet paper from falling off the spindle (25).
 18. A dispenser (10) for dispensing toilet paper from a roll comprising: a bracket (12) having planar portion (12 a) and a slot; an elongated arm (14) engageable through the slot for sliding and pivoting transitional movement between a storage position (16) extending generally perpendicular to the planar portion (12 a) of the bracket (12) and a use position (18) extending generally parallel to the planar portion (12 a) of the bracket (12); a spindle (25) on one end of the elongated arm (14) for supporting a roll of toilet paper; and a stop member (28) connected to the elongated arm (14) at an opposite end of the elongated arm (14) from the spindle (25).
 19. The dispenser (10) of claim 18, wherein the bracket (12) attaches to a pre-existing toilet paper wall dispenser support (13) with at least one clamping member (30).
 20. The dispenser (10) of claim 18 further comprising: a retaining member (26) on the spindle (25), the retaining member (26) preventing the roll of toilet paper from falling off the spindle (25). 